Clematis plant named ‘Evipo003’

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  cultivar with compact growth habit, profuse, white and violet blue flowers which is well suited to propagation in glasshouses. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical classification: Clematis l. Genus—Clematis. Species—hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Evipo003’.

Commercial classification: Early flowering cultivar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated from a controlled crossing between the female parent‘Evitwo’ described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,167 datedDec. 30, 1997, and the male parent, an unnamed, unpatented plant ofClematis chrysocoma a non-patented clematis.

The new clematis may be distinguished from its female seed parent,‘Evitwo’, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Evipo003’ is a single flowered variety, whereas ‘Evitwo’ is        a double flowered variety.    -   2. While flowers of ‘Evitwo’ are pure white, ‘Evipo003’ has        violet intonations in the tepals.

The new clematis may be distinguished from its male pollen parent,Clematis chrysocoma, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. Clematis chrysocoma has pink flowers, while ‘Evipo003’ has        white and violet blue flowers.    -   2. ‘Evipo003’ has a greater flower size than Clematis        chrysocoma.

The two parents were crossed and the resulting seed was planted in acontrolled environment. The new variety is named ‘Evipo003’.

The objective of the hybridization of this Clematis variety forcommercial glasshouse and nursery culture was to create a new anddistinct variety with unique qualities that this variety has:

-   -   1. Profuse flowering habit.    -   2. White flowers with slight violet blue tones and a yellow        center.

These qualities required improvement in Clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in ‘Evipo003’ which distinguish it fromall other varieties of which we are aware.

The seeds from the aforementioned hybridization were germinated andevaluations of the resulting seedling plants were conducted in acontrolled environment. As a result, ‘Evipo003’ was selected by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in their Clematis development program inDomarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands,United Kingdom in April 1998.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Evipo003’ by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in May 1998. Thisinitial and subsequent asexual propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of ‘Evipo003’ are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type:

FIG. 1 Open flower upper side;

FIG. 2 Open flower, upper and lower surface;

FIG. 3.1 Stem, leaves, bud at ¼ opening, bud closed;

FIG. 3.2 Mature stem and leaves;

FIG. 3.3 Juvenile stem and leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘Evipo003’, as observed inits growth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of 24 months in 2liter containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the varietymay vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal,and climatic conditions. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is ‘Evirin’, apatented variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,838issued on Aug. 13, 2002. Chart 1 details several physicalcharacteristics of ‘Evipo003’ and the comparison variety.

CHART 1 ‘Evipo003’ ‘Evirin’ Anther color Yellow Dark Red Season's growth1.5 to 2 M 2.5 M

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. Normally flowers April through June and    September through October.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—50 to 60 mm in length. Bud diameter is 15-20 mm.        -   Bud form.—Long Elliptic.        -   Bud color.—Yellow-Green Group 144C with Violet-Blue Group            97C tepal margins at ¼ opening.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth and pubescent.        -   Length.—50 to 70 mm average length.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Receptacle: Absent.-   Flower arrangement:    -   -   Location.—On the vine flowering occurs on new and old            growth.        -   Borne.—Flowers normally occur singly in the spring. In the            autumn, flowers occur on compound cymes in clusters of 3 to            7 flowers.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Size.—120-160 mm in diameter. 15 mm in depth.        -   Profile.—Upon opening, flowers are flat. After opening            flowers are flat, with tepals somewhat reflexing.        -   Tepal color.—Upon opening: Upper and lower surface is White            Group N155A in color. Other intonations of Violet-Blue Group            92C observed at margins and tepal apex. After opening: Upper            and lower surface is White Group N155A in color. Other            intonations of Violet-Blue Group 92C observed at margins and            tepal apex.        -   Variations.—Uniform.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lasting quality.—On the plant: 10 to 15 days. Cut flower: 3            to 7 days.-   Tepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Single. 6 to 8 tepals normally.        -   Size.—65 to 80 mm in length by 40 to 50 mm wide on average.        -   Shape.—Individual tepal shape is ovate.        -   Reflexing.—Slight.        -   Cross section.—Flat.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Undulations.—Margins undulate somewhat, 3-5 times along            tepal length.        -   Tepal apex.—Obtuse and mucronate.        -   Tepal base.—Acute.        -   Persistence.—Tepals drop off cleanly.        -   Arrangement.—Tepals are arranged regularly.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—Open.        -   Pollen.—Quantity: Average. Color: White Group 155A.        -   Anthers.—Size: 5-7 mm in length. Color: Yellow Group 8C.            Quantity: On average 160 to 190.        -   Filaments.—Color: White Group N155A. Length: 15 to 18 mm.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 60 to 70.        -   Stigmas.—Inferior becoming superior as flower opens.        -   Styles.—Color: Green-White N157 A. Length: 15 to 18 mm.-   Seed head characteristics:    -   -   Shape.—Seed clusters are globular.        -   Individual seed size.—7 to 9 mm in length. 5 to 7 mm in            diameter at the base with a long 30 to 45 mm plumule.        -   Shape.—Circular to tear shape.        -   Style.—Feathery, 50-80 mm in length.

PLANT

-   Plant form: Climbing.-   Plant growth: Moderately vigorous.-   Size: Seasons growth attains 1.5 to 2.0 meters in height. Average    spread is 1 meter.-   Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Juvenile: Yellow-Green Group 145B. Mature:            Greyed-Orange Group 165C.        -   Internodes.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 145 to 170 mm.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Plant foliage:    -   -   Leaf characteristics.—Deciduous. Mature leaves are normally            Trifoliate. Occasionally, plants produce single leaves.        -   Compound leaf size.—200 to 250 mm (l)×190 to 230 mm (w).        -   Abundance.—Generally, there are 6 leaves per 250 to 300 mm            of stem.        -   Color.—Upper surfaces of mature leaves are Green Group 137A.            Lower surfaces are Green Group 137C. Upper surfaces of            juvenile foliage are Green Group 143A. Lower surfaces are            Green Group 145A.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Absent.        -   Petioles.—Average length: 90-120 mm. Color: Yellow-Green            Group 144C and Red-Purple Group 71A. Clasping: By leaf            petiole.        -   Petioloule.—Length: 20 to 55 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            144C and Red-Purple Group 71A.        -   Leaflet shape.—General shape: Ovate, Elliptic. Base:            Rounded. Apex: Acute and acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet size.—70 to 90 mm in length by 25 to 40 mm wide.        -   Surface texture.—Upper and lower surfaces are smooth.        -   Thickness.—Moderate.        -   Surface appearance.—Glossy.-   Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks the    species.

1. A new and distinct variety of Clematis plant, substantially as hereinshown and detailed, as a distinct and novel Clematis variety due to itsabundant white and violet blue flowers with good keepability, attractivelong lasting foliage and compact growth, year round flowering underglasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttingsin pots, durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.